Worlds Collide: A Cars Fan Fiction

Smoke and Motors

"Hi, Nikki!" Zhara waved as Elsie focused on a computer terminal, deep in concentration. Sheriff and Sarge were just staring at the gigantic machine in the middle of the room, looking both awed and utterly confused. 

The machine was taller than a three story house, and looked (to Nikki, at least) like a giant death ray from a cheap science fiction movie. It was glowing a faint, light green, and cast an unsettling hue over the room.

As soon as McQueen (with Nikki still sitting on top of him) entered, the two had been floored by the device. Nikki, however, snapped out of it and got off of the race car (who was still in a state of awe). 

"Did you and Zane find Abbey?" Zhara asked, worried as always.

"Yes. She's fine."

"That's great! I can't wait to see her!"

"You will, soon. What have you found out?" 

"Not much," Zhara admitted. "I love Elsie, and we all know how smart she is, but she's not that great with computers."

Elsie turned to glare at her sister. Zhara was indignant, and was about to defend herself when Nikki interrupted. They didn't have time for petty arguments.

"Elsie, can I take a look?" The thirteen-year-old allowed Nikki onto the computer. Nikki didn't know exactly what she was looking for. Maybe blueprints? A mechanic's log? Just SOMETHING to let them know what they were dealing with.

Unfortunately, this computer was a bit more complex than the one she and Zane had found in the corridor. After trying to navigate the device's overly complex layout, she stomped in frustration. However, this turned out to be the perfect thing to do.

"BLUEPRINTS PRINTING." A computerized voice, which came out of nowhere and simultaneously scared them all, announced what Nikki had done. From a narrow, practically invisible slot in the wall, a page of blueprints slid out. 

"Perfect!" Zhara nearly shouted. She ran over and scooped up the blueprints. She turned to her friends to say something else, but she froze. Her joyful expression turned to one of terror, and she pointed at something behind Nikki.

"Yes, my pet. Just perfect." 

The humans and cars of Radiator Springs looked around. Forming a circle around them were various scientists from the lab, each of them staring hungrily at the humans. 

Sheriff, Sarge, and McQueen did their best to get between the girls and the scientists, but it was obvious that they were outmatched. A beige Vauxhall Vectra, accompanied by a white forklift, came closer than the others.

"So we finally meet. I can't tell you how eager I've been to see you up close. There's so much I want to know about you."

Elsie, a look of disgust and fury on her face, signed something at the Vectra that made Zhara gasp. "Language!" she scolded her sister. 

The Vectra laughed. "It doesn't matter what you think; you don't have a say. As soon as we've got you...taken care of, we'll grab the rest of your party. I know they're hiding somewhere in the compound."

"Now, listen here," Sheriff barked, finding his voice. "You've just admitted to committing acts of kidnapping, illegal experimentation, and multiple other charges. I've got every reason to place you and every other vehicle in this compound under arrest."

Nikki realized that Sheriff was stalling. She needed to think of a way out, and she needed to think fast. She noticed Elsie waving at her. She locked eyes with Nikki. Holding her hand close to her chest, so as not to attract attention, she began to finger-spell. 

"S-M-O-K-E."

Nikki understood, and reached into her pocket. They were still there. If Hector had been there, she'd have kissed him. 

Sheriff was still talking, with Sarge joining in. McQueen, however, was looking at the lead scientist curiously. Then his eyes widened in realization.

"I know you," he said to the Vectra, interrupting Sheriff and Sarge. "Benedict Moteur. Aren't you the head of that spark plug company? You offered me a sponsorship last year."

Vectra, who was apparently named Moteur, stopped looking smug. An expression of fury appeared on his face, although Nikki could see panic in his eyes. "That doesn't matter. You won't be able to tell anyone anything by the time I'm done with you!"

Now, Nikki thought. "You aren't going to touch him!" she shouted, trying to sound as threatening as she could as she walked towards the Vectra.

Moteur's attention was drawn to her, and his expression turned smug once more. "What are you going to do, sweetheart? You can't exactly fight twenty cars." He gestured with his tires at the vehicles around him, who began to move forward.

Nikki shrugged, trying to look nonchalant while her heart pounded in her ears. "Maybe not. But I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."

She threw six of Hector's smoke bombs on the ground. A thick cloud of opaque smoke filled the room, sending most of the cars (except Lightning, Sheriff, and Sarge, who had remained frozen in surprise) into a panic. 

Nikki felt a hand slip into hers, and heard Zhara shouting at her. "Let's go!" 

Somehow, the three girls and cars made it out into the halls. Nikki threw down another smoke bomb to cover their tracks as they made a break for the elevator. Luckily, now that they knew where they were going, they got there fairly quickly. 

Sally, Zane, and Abbey had multiple questions, but there wasn't time to answer any of them. Just as they entered the elevator, a siren ten times louder than the smoke detectors began to go off. Elsie stomped on the button, sending the elevator down. The thirty seconds it took for them to reach the ground allowed for Abbey to have a quick reunion with Elsie and Zhara.

"Are you okay?" Elsie signed, just as Zhara asked the same question.

Abbey rolled her eyes. "Yes, mothers, I'm fine."

The second that the door opened, they all shot out. Nikki later realized that it was a miracle none of them had accidentally been run over.

"Everybody in and hold on tight!" Zane shouted as Sarge hooked himself up to the trailer. Abbey, out of breath, was grinning ear to ear as they pulled away. 

"That was amazing! Just like a prison break from Wonder Woman! Or a breakout from Arkham!" 

"Abbey," Zhara said, still out of breath, "we love you and we missed you, but you need to cut back on the comic books."

"NEVER!" the twelve-year-old shouted. 

Nikki laughed. As crazy as she was, it was good to have Abbey back. Still, it was hard not to feel disappointed. 

"I can't believe we went through all of that," she said, "and we didn't even learn anything about how we got here. We have Abbey, but we're basically back where we started."

"Yeah," Zhara said, looking down, "we worked so hard. Oh, by the way, Elsie has something for you."

Elsie, grinning like a jack o'lantern, reached into her tote and pulled out the blueprints from the machine room. Nikki, surprised yet grateful, took them from her friend.  "You had these the whole time?"

The sisters wore identical evil grins. Zane laughed while Abbey gave Elsie a buddy punch in the arm. 

Nikki grinned as she gazed at the plans. They'd done it. They had Abbey back, and had found a possible way home.